Uncle Lino wins California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos

Uncle Lino led all the way to win the inaugural $151,035 Califoia Chrome Stakes by a half-length over Rare Candy in track-record time Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Feando Perez, Uncle Lino ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.82, bettering the mark of 1:40.86 set by Dortmund in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20, 2014. Uncle Lino paid $4.60, $3.20 and $3 as the 13-10 favorite in the race is named for the 2014 Horse of the Year.

“He came out ruing and was comfortable all the way around,” Perez said. “My horse wasn’t going to let (Rare Candy) go by.”

Rare Candy, whose lone win came last July 26 on the turf at Del Mar, finished 5¼ lengths in front of Touched by Autism, the longest shot in the field of eight a 71-1. Rare Candy paid $8.60 and $5.80 while the show price on Touched by Autism was $12.20.

Uncle Lino increased his career eaings to $316,160, with two wins in seven starts. The colt has finished behind three horses expected to run in the Kentucky Derby next weekend.

“Somebody asked me if this horse should win today,” trainer and co-owner Gary Sherlock said. “I said, ‘Well, the horses that have been beating him are ruing in the Kentucky Derby, so I think he’s got a pretty good chance.’”

Uncle Lino may next run in the Preakness on May 21 at Pimlico.

“It’s something we’ve talked about,” Sherlock said. “We’ll see how he comes out of this race. We get an extra week from the Kentucky Derby horses.”